Surgery that will give you a totally new look

Do you have a crooked nose due to an accident or have trouble with nasal congestion making you not breathe with ease? Then you might need Rhinoplasty, a reconstructive medical procedure which corrects the nose size and shape making the face look more aligned.

Although the above reasons are for reconstructive surgery, the procedure is now becoming more of an elective for most people trying to achieve a more aligned and beautiful look.

After all achieving a flawless look is what most people want. It could be that slightly bigger nose or thick lips that deny you that desired look. The flaws that the beauty products available in the market will not help you achieve.

The trend today is more for achieving a permanent look through surgery as patients go for cosmetic surgery enhancements.

A few years back, these procedures were believed to be only for Caucasians or people in the west like Hollywood film stars and the like. Today, the number of Kenyans opting for these enhancements is going up by the day despite the high costs.

Face lift

The face, being the most visible part of the body gets the most attention when it comes to cosmetic surgery. From nose jobs to cheek implants, face lifts and blepharoplasty which is the lift of eyelids, the market is now booming for those offering these services in the country.

A spot check on most major hospitals within Nairobi show cosmetic surgery is part of their day care procedures, an indication that there is demand for the service.

Karen hospital, with the most number of cosmetic surgery procedures is preferred due to the privacy of the location where one can recover without too many prying eyes.

Unlike in the west where such procedures are common place and where takers are proud to be counted, here in Kenya, those who enhance their looks in this way are still a bit shy to talk about it.

“Cosmetic surgery isn’t totally new in the country but it’s growing at a low key, people are still secretive about going for the procedures and often prefer to have it as a personalised service,” states Dr Betty Gikonyo, adding that patients are also keen to first learn about these procedures before they undergo the operation.

One of the most sought-after facial procedures is the oral and maxillofacial surgery which corrects deformities on the face and head brought about by diseases, accidents or due to congenital malformations.

This surgery focuses on injuries and defects on the head, neck, face and jaws as well as the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and face region.

It is recognised as a specialty of dentistry and works on a couple of areas such as cosmetic facial surgery, head and neck reconstruction, reformation of the facial region by advanced stem cell technique and cleft lip surgery.

Prof Stanley Khainga, Chairman of the Kenya Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons say the society has now started the Davinci Clinic in Nairobi that is specifically for aesthetics in collaboration with a clinic in Los Angeles in the US.

“At the clinic, we are now doing high-end procedures such as fat stem cells and platelet rich plasma to rejuvenate the skin,” he says.

The technology of structural fat grafting using stem cells is reported to be one of the most cutting edge techniques in plastic surgery currently where patients will avoid the need for other maintenance procedures such as botox or cosmetic filler injections.

What makes the stem cell facelifts unique and different from other fat transplant procedures is the fact that the abdominal fat and stem cells are mixed with a specific combination of growth factors that help both the stem cells and adipose tissues grow into the needed tissue to restore both the fat to enhance the volume of the face as well as skin elements in order to improve both the quality and texture of the skin.

This procedure does not require surgery, only local anesthesia with oral sedation is used.

Chin and neck reduction is also a common procedure for those with double chins and recovery from goiter as well as those who have had immense weight loss. This surgery eliminates excess fat and skin on the chin and neck region.

Post graduate programme

Cheek augmentation and implants are also a favourite for those who want the perfect, filled out cheeks.

The implants - most made of silicone material - are small, bone like solid structures that are inserted into the cheek area to highlight the person’s cheeks. One’s body fat may also be used to create fuller cheeks.

A face lift, on the other hand, is done to stiffen the facial skin by pulling flabby skin on the face that is caused by age or excessive weight loss. The skin is stretched into the hairline where no one can see the marks.

Most of these surgeries are costly with facial procedures ranging from between Sh150,000 and Sh450,000 depending on the amount of work to be done.

The demand for face lift surgeries has seen Kenya start a post graduate programme in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgery with the first graduates coming out this year.

Previously, most students would go to South Africa or Europe after their first degree programme to pursue their post graduate in cosmetic surgery.

In Africa, the plastic surgery training institutions are only in Kenya South Africa, Egypt and Libya with less than 50 institutions of learning providing plastic surgery courses. Prof Khainga says that with the growing trend and awareness in cosmetic surgery, Kenya now has the potential to be the hub for cosmetic surgery in East and Central Africa.

The stigma associated with cosmetic surgery in Africa is fast fading with more patients embracing this procedure to enhance their looks.

In previous years, local patients would travel to Asia and Europe to have these procedures done but with more hospitals introducing cosmetic surgery and having or collaborating with competent plastic surgeons from elsewhere, more patients are having these procedures done locally.

The cost of cosmetic surgery has surpassed that of reconstructive surgery with costs ranging from Sh200,000 and Sh500,000.